Tea Time for me and mine....

Cambodian Wedding

Tea Ceremony

The morning of my son's wedding we are to arrive at his home in Annapolis at 9 am to participate in a traditional tea ceremony that celebrates the bride and groom's ancestors and elders. My father is 87 and my step-mom is 72. Ravy's aunts are in their 70's. Usually the bride's family is served tea first and the groom's family is then served. Buddhist monks offer prayers to the dead and to the elders. Prayers are said for the bride and groom for a healthy happy marriage. After the ceremony, a brunch is served with a whole roasted pig, ducks, chickens along with many other savory dishes. This will be a very new experience for my family and I am sure I have not described it in a completely accurate manner. But it sounds pretty cool doesn't it?

Then photos, change of clothes, to the church for the wedding at 2 pm, photos, drive to the reception at 6 - a 10 course Chinese New Year's menu ................ Jennifer P.S. The bride's name changes from "Tan" to "Van Valkenburgh" yup... 14 letters.

We're almost there....December the 5th!

TODD & RAVY

The plans are made, the date is set, the church is picked, the flowers are chosen, the shower was held, the airline tickets were purchased, the house was bought, they have moved in, directions were text, emails were sent, more information was texted, phone calls were made, hotels were booked, minister was spoken too, ceremony was planned, food was sampled, cake was chosen, wedding gowns were tried on, friends helped, family joined in - from Canada, California, New Jersey and Cambodia! From Shingles to Chicken Pox. A house being purchased and moving in. Buddhist Monks blessing the house. Traditions. Acceptance. Religions. Illness. Finances. Families. Understanding. Humor. Exhaustion. Travel. More humor!

Thanksgiving. So what's on our plates for now - get through Thanksgiving and enjoy it! Possibly write thank you notes for the bridal shower gifts. Saturday - a going away party for my younger son Matt and his girlfriend Connie who are moving to Korea for a year the day after the wedding to teach English near Seoul. More to follow in my life as it rolls. Momma Hey

P.S. DID I MENTION RAVY IS GOING FROM THE MAIDEN NAME OF 'tan' to 'van valkenburgh'!!!!